Twelve Apostles

The Twelve.

The Twelve Apostles or the Twelve or the Apostles were a group of men called by Jesus Christ to act as the first college of bishops of the Catholic Church. Their leader and representative was Peter, who spoke on their behalf and through whom Christ spoke to the other Apostles. Peter, James and John were the closest of the Apostles to Christ, who let them witness his Transfiguration and his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. The significance of the Twelve is that they represented the twelve tribes of Israel, the fishermen and hunters who would hunt for souls for God, the tax collectors who would enter the Kingdom of God before the Pharisees, the call of sinners, and the expansion of Israel to include the Gentiles. After the suicide of Judas, the Apostles - than called the Eleven - cast lots to see who would succeed him in office; Matthew (Matthias) thus became the first successor of an Apostle, although not the first bishop, since Christ and the Apostles were the first bishops.

Names

Full Name	English Transliteration	Short-for	Meaning	Significence
Sim'on Cephas Bar-Jonah	Simon Peter, Son of Jonas	Peter	Greek: Rock	Simon is called Peter by Jesus to signify that "...on this rock I will build my Church,..."
Andreas Bar-Jonah	Andrew, Son of Jonas	Andrew	Greek: Man
Jacob Bar-Zebedee	James, Son of Zebedee	James	Hebrew: Heel
Jacob Bar-Alphaeus	James, Son of Alphaeus	James the Less	Hebrew: Heel
Johanan Bar-Zebedee	John, Son of Zebedee	John	Hebrew: YHWH is merciful
Phillip Bethsaida	Philip of Bethsaida	Philip	Greek: Friend of horses
Nethan'el Bar-Tolmay	Nathaneal Bartholomew	Bartholomew	Hebrew: Son of Tolmay
Levi Matthathias Bar-Alphaeus	Levi Matthew, Son of Alphaeus	Matthew	Hebrew: Gift of God
Judah Te'oma	Judas Thomas	Thomas	Hebrew: Twin
Judah Taddai	Judas Thaddeus	Jude	Hebrew: To praise God
Sim'on Zelotes	Simon the Zealot	Simon	Hebrew: He who has heard the Word of God
Judah Bar-Iscariot	Judas, Son of Iscariot	Judas	Hebrew: To praise God

Lists

Gospel of Matthew

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.

Gospel of Mark

Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.

Gospel of Luke

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, Judas, and Judas Iscariot.

Gospel of John

There is no list of the Apostles in the Gospel of John, but the Apostles mentioned include: Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, Judas Iscariot,, Thomas, and Judas.